MIAMI -- With Elieser Hernandez working three innings on Thursday, the Marlins knew they would be in a situation where they had to rely on their bullpen. But they received a tough break in the fifth when left-hander Jarlin Garcia exited after being struck in the right shin by a comeback liner in a 5-0 loss to the Braves at Marlins Park.
Nick Markakis smoked a hot shot up the middle that deflected off Garcia and went for an infield single. Statcast™ tracked the line drive at 105.8 mph.
"It hurt a good amount," Garcia said through an interpreter. "I found my leg was tough to move. I didn't want to take the risk of going back out there."
Marlins head athletic trainer Dustin Luepker tended to Garcia, who tried to walk it off. Without even testing the leg with a warmup pitch, Garcia headed to the dugout with the Marlins trailing 4-0. He gave up two runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings.
X-rays came back negative, but the Marlins anticipate Garcia going on the disabled list.
"Jarlin got hit pretty good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Talking with Dusty after the game, obviously, nothing is official at this point, but that looks like it's going to be a little bit."
Reliever Kyle Barraclough is expected to be reinstated from the DL on Friday after being out since Aug. 10 with low back stiffness.
"I think Claw is ready," Mattingly said. "He came out of that good. I'm feeling pretty good that we'll probably activate him tomorrow."
Drew Rucinski replaced Garcia and inherited two runners, allowing one to score.

Miami knew it would be a short night for Hernandez, a rookie who hadn't started since June 26 at Arizona. The right-hander had been pitching out of the bullpen, not having thrown more than three innings since that outing.
Hernandez was lifted after 64 pitches and three runs. After the game, it was announced that Hernandez has a blister on his right middle finger.
"It's a blister that I've been dealing with and kind of have grown accustomed to dealing with," said Hernandez, who also pitched through a blister-related injury earlier in the season.